In a historic move, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced on Monday January 6th, that the 39th annual Royal Rumble will be held in Riyadh, marking the first time the flagship event will take place outside North America.
The prestigious event is considered a flagship showcase for the WWE organisation, and is known for its high-octane action and over-the-top spectacles. And in 2026, the event will be hosted in partnership with the Kingdom's General Entertainment Authority as part of the annual Riyadh Season cultural and sports program.
His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) expressed his enthusiasm and delight of this decision, saying: "Saudi Arabia's hosting of the Royal Rumble for the first time outside North America reflects the General Entertainment Authority's ongoing commitment to bringing the world's largest and most important entertainment events to the Kingdom. Through this partnership with WWE, we aim to enhance the entertainment sector and deliver a transformative experience that attracts a wide audience."
This announcement comes following previously successful and packed out WWE events that have taken place as part of Riyadh Season already. In November 2023, Riyadh Season hosted the WWE Crown Jewel at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Boulevard City. The event marked the ten-year anniversary of collaboration between the Kingdom's Ministry of Sport and the WWE brand.
Whilst Nick Khan, WWE President, emphasised that this step will only lend itself to expand the global reach of the company and it's events: "WWE is a global enterprise and it only made sense to expand our relationship with the Kingdom by bringing one of our biggest annual events to Riyadh in January of 2026."
The announcement was made during the debut episode of Monday Night RAW on Netflix, broadcast from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
The Royal Rumble is a WWE Premium Live Event, and features both men's and women's matches where wrestlers compete to eliminate all their opponents and earn a coveted spot in the main event of WrestleMania.
This landmark event signifies a significant step forward for both WWE and Saudi Arabia, showcasing the Kingdom's growing prominence on the global entertainment stage.
Royal Rumble 2026, Riyadh
January 2026, exact dates tbc
